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Let's start: parent-child program

Reach:

NT

Focus area:

Indigenous

Status:

Current

Evaluated:

Yes

Overview

The Let's start: parent-child program is a targeted early intervention program to help parents and young children deal with emotional and behavioural challenges. It is a therapeutically oriented group parenting program that focuses on supporting children's social-emotional development during the transition to school. Let's start aims to improve parenting knowledge and skills, parental confidence and mental health, as well as to enhance the quality of parent-child relationships.

The project is based on the Exploring together preschool program and has been modified for the Northern Territory context, specifically the Indigenous communities. It is currently being delivered in remote communities on the Tiwi Islands and in the Victoria-Daly Rivers region. Let's start is the only available parenting program specifically developed for Aboriginal parents and families with evidence for its effectiveness. It has been developed over years of experience in work with Aboriginal children and families, and is responsive to kinship, culture, and Aboriginal family values.

The Let's start project targets children aged 4 - 7 years experiencing emotional and behavioural problems. It runs for 10 weeks during the school term and involves weekly two hour sessions with child and parent. An evaluation of the project found it increased parental confidence and assertiveness, strengthened parent-child relationships, and improved child's behaviour and social skills.